Which country has more hunger? Understanding the crisis

December 10, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a September 2025 World Bank update, 1.4 million people are facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, and in recent years, conflict and climate change have worsened the crisis, making the question of which country has more hunger increasingly complex to answer. Rather than a single nation, the issue affects specific regions and populations, often driven by overlapping crises.

Quick Summary

This article analyzes the global hunger crisis by examining key reports and highlighting the nations most severely impacted. Factors like conflict, climate change, and economic instability are explored in depth, using data from recent crises in places like Sudan and Yemen.

Key Points

Conflict is a Primary Driver: Conflict-affected nations like Sudan, Yemen, and South Sudan are among the most severely impacted by acute food insecurity.
Climate Change Worsens Crises: The climate crisis, through extreme weather events like droughts and floods, is increasingly responsible for crop failures and destabilized food systems.
Economic Instability Hurts Poorest Nations: Economic shocks, high food prices, and global supply chain issues disproportionately affect low-income countries, limiting food access.
Global Hunger Metrics Vary: Organizations like the Global Hunger Index (GHI) and the World Bank report on food crises, with different metrics highlighting varying levels of severity and specific countries affected.
No Single 'Hungriest' Country: Instead of a single nation, multiple regions and specific populations within countries face catastrophic levels of hunger, requiring targeted and sustained international aid.
Efforts to Reduce Hunger Lag: While some progress has been made globally, significant coordinated effort is still needed to address the root causes and achieve zero hunger by the 2030 target.
Humanitarian Aid is Crucial: Emergency food relief and long-term development programs by organizations like the World Food Programme are critical for saving lives and building resilience.

Understanding the Complexities of Global Hunger

While the search for a single country with the most hunger is common, international organizations emphasize that it is a nuanced issue, with different nations facing varying levels of severity. Acute food insecurity, malnutrition, and famine are not static conditions but are often triggered by multiple, overlapping crises. The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2025 confirms that nations torn by conflict and extreme weather events are disproportionately affected, pushing vulnerable populations to the brink.

The Role of Conflict in Food Insecurity

Armed conflict is a primary driver of hunger, disrupting food production, hindering humanitarian access, and displacing millions of people from their homes and livelihoods. Regions afflicted by persistent violence often see their agricultural systems collapse, markets fail, and supply chains become unnavigable.

Sudan: The ongoing conflict has created one of the world's worst hunger crises. Famine was confirmed in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur in 2024, with millions more facing catastrophic food shortages. The World Food Programme cites the crisis as a major factor.
Yemen: Decades of conflict have crippled the economy and food production in Yemen, with the country importing the vast majority of its food. High malnutrition rates, especially among children, are a direct consequence.
Palestine (Gaza Strip): The humanitarian blockade and military operations have left almost the entire population facing severe food insecurity, with millions at risk of famine conditions.

Climate Change: A Growing Threat to Food Stability

Climate change continues to exacerbate hunger, with extreme weather events destroying crops, affecting livestock, and disrupting agricultural seasons. Droughts, floods, and hurricanes have a devastating impact, especially in regions that rely heavily on agriculture.

Horn of Africa: The region has faced some of its longest droughts in over four decades, leading to widespread crop failures and immense livestock losses in countries like Somalia and Ethiopia.
Sahel Region: Nations like Chad, Mali, and Niger experience persistent nutrition crises due to a combination of extreme weather and conflict, which destabilizes local food systems.

Economic Shocks and Instability

Beyond conflict and climate, global economic volatility also plays a significant role in determining which country has more hunger. Inflation, high debt levels, and disruptions to global supply chains disproportionately harm low and middle-income countries, limiting investment in crucial social protection programs.

Comparison of Factors Affecting Hunger


Country/Region	Primary Driver	Specific Issues	Population Vulnerability	Hunger Status (2024/2025)
Sudan	Conflict	Mass displacement, collapsing economy, restricted aid access	Millions displaced, high risk of famine	Confirmed Famine in specific areas; widespread acute food insecurity
Palestine (Gaza)	Conflict/Blockade	Humanitarian blockade, military operations, aid restrictions	Entire population severely food insecure, high malnutrition rates	Millions at risk of famine thresholds being breached
South Sudan	Conflict & Climate	Severe flooding, economic crisis, displacement	Over half the population with high food insecurity	Prolonged emergency, famine conditions in some areas
Yemen	Conflict	Crippled economy, import dependence, high inflation	One of the world's highest rates of child malnutrition	Extremely Critical nutrition crises in some areas
Haiti	Conflict & Economic	Gang violence, market disruption, limited aid access	Increasing numbers of people facing acute food insecurity	Worsening crisis due to violence

The State of the Crisis and Ongoing Efforts

The 2025 update from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) points to a slight decrease in global hunger, with 8.2% of the world population affected, down from 8.7% in 2022. However, this improvement is not universal, with many regions, particularly in Africa, seeing deterioration. The overall picture highlights persistent challenges and the need for sustained, targeted action.

International organizations continue to provide critical assistance, including emergency food aid, nutrition interventions, and support for sustainable agriculture. The World Food Programme (WFP), for instance, provides life-saving relief in emergencies and works on long-term development to build resilience. Addressing the root causes of hunger—conflict, climate change, and economic instability—remains the key to achieving lasting change.

For more detailed information on global humanitarian efforts, visit the World Food Programme.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the answer to which country has more hunger is not a simple ranking but a deeper understanding of the crises driving food insecurity. While the 2024 Global Hunger Index highlighted countries with 'alarming' levels of hunger, including Somalia, Yemen, Chad, and Madagascar, the situation evolves rapidly due to conflicts in places like Sudan and Gaza. A comprehensive approach that addresses geopolitical stability, climate resilience, and economic vulnerabilities is essential to combating this complex and widespread issue, rather than focusing on a single, short-term metric.

Key Factors Contributing to Global Hunger

Conflict and Instability: Armed conflicts severely disrupt food production, displace populations, and block humanitarian access, making it the leading cause of acute hunger globally. Climate Change: Extreme weather events such as droughts and floods cause widespread crop failures and livestock losses, pushing fragile regions into deeper food crises. Economic Shocks: High food prices, debt, and economic downturns disproportionately affect low-income countries, limiting citizens' access to affordable and nutritious food. Poverty and Inequality: Systemic inequality, both within and between countries, perpetuates poverty, leaving vulnerable communities without the resources to access sufficient nourishment. Displacement: Forcibly displaced populations, including refugees and internally displaced persons, face heightened food insecurity due to loss of livelihoods and dependence on often-limited humanitarian aid. Inadequate Infrastructure: Poor transportation and storage infrastructure can lead to significant food loss and waste, further exacerbating food shortages and price hikes. Global Supply Chain Disruptions: The fallout from events like the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts (e.g., the war in Ukraine) has impacted global food supplies, driving prices up and causing shortages. Gender Discrimination: Women and girls often face discrimination that limits their access to food and resources, making them particularly vulnerable to chronic hunger.

Frequently Asked Questions

While data fluctuates, reports indicate that Somalia and Haiti have experienced some of the highest rates of undernourishment in recent years. However, conflict zones like Sudan and Yemen also show extremely high and worsening rates of malnutrition.

The Global Hunger Index is an annual report that tracks and measures hunger at a global, regional, and country level. The 2024 GHI indicated that six countries had 'alarming' levels of hunger, including Burundi, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, Yemen, and Chad.

Conflict drives food insecurity by disrupting food production, destroying infrastructure, forcing millions of people from their homes, and restricting access for humanitarian aid organizations. This leads to market failures, displacement, and a breakdown of local food systems.

Climate change drives hunger by causing extreme weather events like prolonged droughts and severe floods. These events destroy crops, kill livestock, and disrupt agricultural cycles, leading to food shortages and increased prices.

Yes, the planet produces enough food to feed everyone. The primary challenges are not a lack of supply but issues related to access, distribution, economic inequality, and political instability that prevent food from reaching those who need it most.

In August 2025, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared a famine in Sudan and the Gaza Strip. The situation in these areas remains catastrophic, with millions facing acute food insecurity.

Economic instability, including high inflation, low growth, and high debt in developing nations, limits the ability of households to purchase food. This is often worsened by global shocks and the inability of governments to fund social protection programs.